The Republican / File photo by David RobackMassachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo said Wednesday he would work closely with Gov. Deval Patrick and Senate President Therese Murray to devise a new bill for casinos, saying expanded gaming would create jobs and generate aid for cities and towns in the state.

BOSTON – Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo will "drop the puck" at Monday night's Frozen Fenway hockey game in Boston.

The Winthrop Democrat is expected to take center ice at 9 p.m. as rival Norwood and Revere high schools face off in front of a crowd of thousands at historic Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

DeLeo, a longtime fan of professional, college and high school sports, became a big fan of holding hockey games at the fabled ballpark after the Bruins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway in the NHL's 2010 Winter Classic. The past two Winter Classics were held at Pennsylvania stadiums.

The Speaker of the House even lobbied the NHL to consider hosting at least one professional hockey game a year at Fenway, though that has not materialized. DeLeo, in a letter to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, said that "maintaining a permanent outdoor presence in Boston could help to both solidify the league's base in our area and help ensure a healthy future for the game."

When baseball season is over, Fenway transforms into hockey central with the addition of an outdoor rink smack dab in the middle of the field. And each year local college and high school teams get a chance to play in front of big crowds under the lights.

Springfield's Cathedral High School recently had a chance to play at Fenway, while UMass defeated rival UVM in an overtime thriller in front of a huge crowd on Saturday.